Mohammed Hasim, PhD student, IFMR GSB, won the best paper award and a cash prize of ₹10,000 at the Spatial Econometrics Workshop and PhD Colloquium held at IIT Indore. His winning paper, Illuminating Inequality: Intra-State Economic Convergence and Regional Disparities in Karnataka, India, explores regional economic patterns and disparities within the state.
Jyothis Franklin, PhD scholar, IFMR GSB has presented a research paper titled ‘A Bibliometric Study of the Literature on Advertising Ethics’ co-authored with Dr Jayasankar Ramanathan, Associate Professor, Marketing, IFMR GSB at the American Marketing Association (AMA) Winter Academic Conference 2025 (Virtual) on 10 February, 2025.
Abstract:
This study aims to analyse the research impact, key trends and current state of knowledge in advertising ethics through bibliometric analysis. By examining 233 relevant articles, the study evaluates publication patterns, authorship trends and knowledge structures. It identifies influential works, contributions and evolving trends in the domain. This study guides managers in developing ethical guidelines for advertising campaigns by mapping the evolution of advertising ethics since its inception. The study is the first to employ a quantitative method to map out the relevant literature on advertising ethics.
Three first-year MBA students from IFMR GSB — Rahul Kumar, Jayesh Sharma, and Harsh Verma — secured second place in Entrée-preneurship 7.0, an online case study competition held as part of Tangerine Trails, organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIM Nagpur on 16 December, 2024.
Mugdha Kinhikar, PhD student, IFMR GSB has successfully presented a research paper titled Does The Fiscal Position of States Matter in the Allocation of Climate Adaptation Funds in India, co-authored with Dr Soumya Pal, Assistant Professor, Economics, IFMR GSB at the 6th Annual Conference on Economics and Finance (ACEF 2025), hosted by Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) Pilani, Hyderabad Campus held from 4 – 6 February, 2025.
Abstract of the paper:
Globally, financing for climate adaptation is switching to fund-based financing that follows the principle of competitive application and allocation. This funding mechanism aims to prioritise the most vulnerable countries. India, on a similar note, in 2015 adopted a National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), the first-ever fund solely dedicated to climate adaptation for states. For developing countries like India that face resource constraints, parameters for the allocation of such funds within the country are of vital importance. The paper analyses whether the state’s fiscal position is associated with the funds allocated under NAFCC in India.
Further, the researchers study if the allocation of funds is associated with the climate adaptation capacity of the states. The results show a lower degree of correlation between the fiscal performance index of states and grants given under NAFCC. The result highlights that the presence of resource capacity within the states has a minimal role in deciding the allocation of grants to states. Further, the states with higher adaptation indexes receive higher amounts of grants. These results question the NAFCC framework’s logic, suggesting that priority might be given to states with lower adaptation capacities to facilitate their development and narrow the gap. Hence, this raises questions about the effectiveness of NAFCC in targeting the most vulnerable states and promoting equitable distribution of resources.
Dr Debankar Saha, Assistant Professor & Area Chair – Marketing, IFMR GSB recently presented a research paper, ‘Birdwatching and Ecotourism: Exploring the Motivations for Participation in Eco-Avitourism’, at the Indian Academy of Management (INDAM) Conference held at IIFT, Kolkata. The conference brought together a diverse group of academicians, policymakers, and industry professionals, fostering a rich intellectual exchange.
Dr Saha explores the key factors that motivate individuals to participate in birdwatching tourism within an ecotourism framework, emphasising its alignment with sustainability principles and contribution to responsible tourism practices. The response to the presentation was overwhelmingly positive, sparking insightful discussions with both the panel and the audience.
Krea University recently hosted a Symposium on Biodiversity and Wetland Conservation as part of the Flamingo Festival, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Government in association with Bombay Natural History Society and Sri City.
As part of the symposium, Dr Debankar Saha, Assistant Professor & Area Chair – Marketing, IFMR GSBdelivered a talk on ‘Ecotourism as a Pathway to Sustainable Development at Pulicat Lake.’ His presentation highlighted the role of ecotourism in fostering conservation efforts, supporting local communities, and promoting sustainable practices in the region.
The symposium attracted participants from various leading organizations involved in biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, and environmental research. Experts, policymakers, and academicians engaged in discussions on strategies to protect Pulicat Lake’s fragile ecosystem, enhance community-based conservation efforts, and promote responsible tourism.
Pratibha Jain, PhD student, IFMR GSB, presented a research paper at the IMPeC 2025 Conference held at IIM Sambalpur. The paper, titled The Retention Puzzle: A Comprehensive Review of Non-Profit Employee Dynamics, was co-authored and developed under the guidance of Dr Pallavi Pandey, Assistant Professor, OB & HR, IFMR GSB. The conference was conducted from 30 January, 2025 to 1 February, 2025.
Dr Vijaya C, Assistant Professor, Finance, IFMR GSB was invited as the Track Chair and Reviewer for Finance Case studies presented at the 15th Annual Case Conference, COGNOSCO 2025 organised by The School of Business and Management (MBA) and the Centre for Case Research and Development (CCRD) of Christ Deemed to be University, Bengaluru on 24 January 2025.
COGNOSCO, initiated in 2012, is a platform for case writers to present their case studies and promote the development of quality teaching cases among the teaching fraternity and also business practitioners.
Malyaj Jain, MBA Cohort of 2025, IFMR GSB has won the Young Business Leader competition, the flagship event at T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), held on 18 and 19 January 2025. This remarkable achievement comes with a cash prize of Rs 60,000.
The two-day competition featured multiple challenging rounds. On the first day, participants solved puzzles to earn points, followed by a case-solving round and an auction. The second day concluded with a rigorous stress interview, after which Malyaj was declared the winner.
This accomplishment is a significant milestone in his MBA journey, and he takes pride in representing IFMR GSB on such a prestigious platform. Congratulations, Malyaj Jain!
Dr Suresh Govindapuram, Assistant Professor of Economics, IFMR GSB is one of the Co-PIs (Co-Project Directors) for the project “Drivers and Barriers of Rooftop Solar Power: An Analysis of Micro and Small Size Hotels in India” sanctioned under Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Collaborative Empirical Research Project on Solar Energy and Sustainability 2024-25.
Other collaborators include Dr Salman Haider (VIT Vellore), Dr Shadab Danish (IIM Raipur), Professor Arup Mitra (SAU Dehli) and Professor Prabakar S (VIT Vellore).
